A secured debt is one where the creditor has rights in the property being purchased or other property the debtor has pledged. For a house, the rights the creditor has are to foreclose on the property or collect on a note that was signed. For a car, the creditor typically has a right to repossess the vehicle. Certain furniture purchases are secured by giving the creditor the right to take the furniture. You can usually tell if a debt is secured by looking at the underlying agreement you signed when the goods were purchased. Generally, if the creditor has some right to reacquire the goods, the debt is secured. If not, the debt is unsecured.